Governor gives annual report and bestows awards in Gori

Shida Kartli Governor Lado Vardzelashvili presented a report on the work he has undertaken in 2009 on December 15 in Gori. After his speech he bestowed awards on 28 representatives of NGOs and diplomatic missions in Georgia for their active work in the region.

“I am thankful to the international community for its support in overcoming the August 2008 crisis in Georgia and for the post-emergency development it is still undertaking up to now," stated Lado Vardzelashvili. "If it had not been for this help we would not have been able to tackle all these problems ourselves. You are no longer foreigners for us, since you have seen all these burnt out, destroyed and looted houses and helped us bring hope to these desperate people affected by war.”

The Governor made a detailed presentation on the funds spent in 2009, the names of the project implementing and donor organisations, the numbers of beneficiaries of these projects and the work being done to support the war-affected region.

“I’m proud to receive such an award on behalf of the CARE team, past and present. We are still actively working in this region and our intention is to continue so in future too,” Jonathan Puddifoot, Mission Director of CARE International in the Caucasus, said.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition of our work. The most important thing is that we have helped people recover from crisis and start a new life,” says Inita Paulovica, Deputy Head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“UNDP’s programme in Shida Kartli was set in motion barely 6 weeks after the war. With money from the European Union and our own resources, we fixed water supply systems, rebuilt schools, assisted farmers, provided small loans to start new businesses and set up vocational training in areas where there are jobs, like construction, agriculture and food processing. There is still a lot to do and UNDP stands ready to continue its assistance to the region,” she went on to say.

Archbishop Meupe Andria of Gori and Samtavisi was awarded the title of Honorable Citizen of Gori for his civil heroism during the August 2008 war, whilst other members of the spiritual authorities were given presents by the local government.